CINCINNATI, Ohio– The United Way of Cincinnati is working to bridge the gap of early learning development for children around the state.

The stats show it all, as the Success by 6 program in Cincinnati showed. 

“Our mission is focused on prenatal to five space because we know that while the K-12 system are integral partners in the continuance of care for kids, that if they don’t invest in the first five years of life where 90%of the brain development happens then we’re far too late to close those gaps,” Lynanne Gutierrez the policy director and legal counsel at Groundwork Ohio said.

In Hamilton County, almost 30% of all children up to the age of five live in poverty. Among African American children of the same age, that number jumps to more than 50%

“Far too often we have children that are left behind,” Jennifer Ingram, the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at United Way of Greater Cincinnati said. “Far too often, that falls along the lines of race.”

The gap is almost too difficult to close once those kids start school. That’s because only 40% of Ohio children are ready for Kindergarten. 

“If we don’t invest early, not just in pre-school but also in our babies and toddlers, our pregnant moms, our families, our young children, then we’re really missing a real opportunity to level the playing field for our kids,” Gutierrez said.

But experts say it’s an issue much broader than Ohio.

“I wouldn’t say by any means that it is isolated to Ohio, this is a national call to action movement that we have to focus on the earliest years,” Gutierrez said.

To address the problem, the United Way wants more people to know of the issue that lies ahead.

“There were so many inspiring things that were said today, and really ways that I hope people are inspired to be able to think about their own organizations as it relates to equity,” Leshia Lyman, the Vice President of Success by 6 at United Way of Greater Cincinnati said. “And applying that to early childhood because we know is we can really address that as early as possible, we’ll be able to address the barriers moving forward.”

And while fixing these childhood gaps is a marathon and not a sprint, they say small changes and investments in the community are a good start.

“Valuing people, valuing lived experience, recognizing diversity and building inclusive environments and communities where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive,” Ingram said.